Legal Medicine - Articles in Press

Predictors of hyoid fracture in hanging: Discriminant function analysis of morphometric variables - Corrected Proof

Partha Pratim Mukhopadhyay — 2010-03-08

Abstract: Hyoid is a U-shaped bone present in the ventral aspect of neck at the level of fourth cervical vertebra. It is a small bone placed between the root of tongue and the thyroid cartilage. Fracture of hyoid has great significance and importance in forensic pathology. It is well documented that fracture of hyoid is a recognized finding and indicator of strangulation (more common in manual or throttling than by ligature). Fracture of hyoid is less frequently reported in hanging. Discriminant function analysis was used with all predictors (width of hyoid, antero-posterior length of hyoid and length of greater cornu) were entered together. The analysis showed that 96.0% of original grouped cases could be correctly classified.

Investigation of secondary DNA transfer of skin cells under controlled test conditions - Corrected Proof

Mariya Goray, R. John Mitchell, Roland A.H. van Oorschot — 2010-03-08

Abstract: There is a paucity of data on the relative transfer rates of deposited biological substances which could assist evaluation of the probability of given crime scene scenarios, especially for those relating to objects originally touched by hand. This investigation examines factors that may influence the secondary transfer of DNA from this source, including the freshness of the deposit, the nature of the primary and secondary substrate and the manner of contact between the surfaces.The transfer rates showed that both the primary and secondary type of substrate and the manner of contact are important factors influencing transfer of skin cells, but, unlike other biological fluids, such as blood and saliva, the freshness of the deposit in most instances is not. Skin cells deposited on a non-porous primary substrate transferred more readily to subsequent substrates than those deposited on a porous substrate. Porous secondary substrates, however, facilitated transfer more readily than non-porous secondary substrates, from both porous and non-porous surfaces. Friction as the manner of contact significantly increased the rate of transfer.The findings of this study improve our general understanding of the transfer of DNA material contained in fingerprints that is left on a surface, and assist in the evaluation of the probability of secondary and further DNA transfer under specific conditions.

Immunohistochemistry of catecholamines in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal system with special regard to fatal hypothermia and hyperthermia - Corrected Proof

2010-03-08

Abstract: Catecholamines are involved in various stress responses. Previous studies have suggested applicability of the postmortem blood levels to investigations of physical stress responses or toxic/hyperthermic neuronal dysfunction during death process. The present study investigated cellular immunopositivity for adrenaline (Adr), noradrenaline (Nad) and dopamine (DA) in the hypothalamus, adenohypophysis and adrenal medulla with special regard to fatal hypothermia (cold exposure) and hyperthermia (heat stroke) to examine forensic pathological significance. Medicolegal autopsy cases (n=290, within 3days postmortem) were examined. The proportions of catecholamine (Adr, Nad and DA)-positive cells (% positivity) in each tissue were quantitatively estimated using immunostaining. Hyperthermia cases (n=12) showed a lower neuronal DA-immunopositivity in the hypothalamus than hypothermia cases (n=20), while Nad- and DA-immunopositivities in the adrenal medulla were higher for hyperthermia than for hypothermia. Rates of Nad-immunopositivity in the adrenal medulla were very low for hypothermia. No such difference between hypothermia and hyperthermia was seen in the adenohypophysis. In hypothermia cases, cellular Nad-immunopositivity in the adrenal medulla correlated with the Nad level in cerebrospinal fluid (r=0.591, p<0.01). These observations suggest a characteristic immunohistochemical pattern of systemic stress response to fatal hypothermia and hyperthermia, involving the hypothalamus and adrenal medulla.

Vascular endothelial growth factor in the early stage of skin incision wounds in cyclophosphamide-induced leukocytopenic rats - Corrected Proof

Makoto Nogami, Tomoaki Hoshi, Yoko Toukairin, Tomomi Arai — 2010-03-08

Abstract: Wound healing evaluation is important in forensic pathology. We have already shown that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is produced in the rat skin incision wounds. In this study, we used cyclophosphamide hydrate (CPM) to induce leukocytopenia in rats, and measured VEGF in the skin incision wound area to assess the involvement of leukocytes in the early production of VEGF. Male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were intraperitoneally administered CPM 75mg/kg body weight on day 0 and 5, and dorsal skin incision wounds were made on day 5. One and 3days after the skin incision, leukocytes counts were determined and skin specimens from the wounds were collected for measurements of total proteins, VEGF proteins, and semi-quantification of VEGF mRNA. VEGF immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization for VEGF mRNA were also performed. VEGF proteins were smaller in the amount statistically significantly in the 1- and 3-day-old wounds of CPM-induced leukocytopenic rats, whereas VEGF mRNA was increased compared with saline-treated control rats. Immunohistochemically, VEGF was positive in leukocytes and mesenchymal cells including fibroblasts and endothelial cells in the 3-day-old wound of saline-administered control rats, while a few fibroblasts and endothelial cells were positively stained in CPM-administered rats. In situ hybridization showed the localization of VEGF mRNA in mesenchymal cells including fibroblasts and endothelial cells in the 1-day-old wound of CPM-administered rats, whereas saline-administered control rats also showed VEGF mRNA positivity in leukocytes. Our study indicates that leukocytes may be the major source of VEGF in the early stage of the rat skin incision wound.

Autopsy case of a patient with 13q− syndrome - Corrected Proof

2010-01-28

Abstract: Partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 13 results in 13q− syndrome, and phenotypes of affected patients vary widely. We describe an autopsy case of the sudden, unexpected death of a 17-year-old boy with 13q− syndrome. He had severe psychomotor retardation and had been receiving follow-up care. One day he was found dead in his house and autopsy was performed to elucidate the cause of death. Autopsy findings revealed lobulation anomalies of the lungs, hypoplasia of the adrenal and thyroid glands, and apituitarism due to hyperplasia of bone in the hypophyseal fossa. No other pathological lesions were observed. Chromosomal analysis confirmed interstitial deletion from the long arm of chromosome 13. Karyotype was 46,XY, del(13)(q14.3q32). We concluded that the patient died of multi-organ dysfunction due to apituitarism. Autopsy cases of 13q− syndrome are rare. Furthermore, lobulation anomalies and apituitarism associated with 13q− syndrome have not previously been described. This case report offers novel clues to elucidating critical regions of chromosome 13 associated with malformations of the lungs and pituitary gland.